Campanula plant named ‘PKMP08’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Campanula  plant named ‘PKMP08’, characterized by having compact, upright plant habit; dense and bushy plant form mainly due to more upright stems; vigorous growth habit and less need for chemical growth retardation; greater number of flowers per plant, large upright violet flowers, darker violet petals and flower buds, and no need for vernalization.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Campanulaportenschlagiana.

Variety denomination: ‘PKMP08’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCampanula plant, botanically known as Campanula portenschlagianaSchult., commonly known as Dalmatian Bellflower, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘PKMP08’.

The new Campanula, ‘PKMP08’, is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Christian Hald Madsen, in Søohus, Denmark.The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Campanulavariety with uniform and compact plant form and deep purple flowers.

The new Campanula cultivar originated from a planned breeding program.The new Campanula originated from a cross made by the inventor in June2007 between Campanula portenschlagiana 08.03 as the female parent andCampanula portenschlagiana 08.05 as the male parent. The inventorselected the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ in August 2008 on the basis of itscompact and freely flowering habit, and dark purple flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ by terminal cuttingssince August of 2008 in Søohus, Denmark, has shown that the combinationof characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PKMP08’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PKMP08’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit;    -   2. Dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to more upright stems;    -   3. Vigorous growth habit, and less need for chemical growth        retardation;    -   4. Deeper purple flower and bud color; and    -   5. No need for vernalization.

Side-by-side comparisons between the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ andCampanula ‘PKMP05’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,188), wereconducted by the inventor in Stige, Denmark. Plants of ‘PKMP08’ differfrom the plants of ‘PKMP05’ in the unique characteristic of havingdarker violet flower buds and darker violet petals.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similarin comparison to ‘PKMP08’ is the cultivar, Campanula ‘PKMP05’ (patented,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,188), as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar ‘PKMP08’, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which more accuratelydescribe the actual colors of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘PKMP08’ as grown in a 11 cm pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical young flower bud of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of typical flower buds of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 4 shows a typical flower from ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of a typical young leaf of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 6 shows a close-up view of a typical mature leaf of ‘PKMP08’.

FIG. 7 shows a side perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMP08’(on left) and ‘PKMP05’ on right.

FIG. 8 shows a close-up view of a typical mature bud of ‘PKMP08’ (onleft) and ‘PKMP05’ (on right).

FIG. 9 shows a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘PKMP08’ (on left)and ‘PKMP05’ (on right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Campanula ‘PKMP08’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varysignificantly with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, day length, and fertility level without any variance ingenotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of the newCampanula ‘PKMP08’ as grown in a heated and lighted, glass-coveredgreenhouse in Søhus, Denmark, under conditions which are generally usedin commercial practice. Plants of ‘PKMP08’ are grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse where day temperatures in the greenhouse range from 18-22° C.and the average night temperature is 16° C. Light levels used whilegrowing plants of ‘PKMP08’ are 100 Wm². Plants of ‘PKMP08’ are grownwith 16 to 18 hour long day photoperiodic treatments; 10 hour short dayphotoperiodic treatments for propagation and seedlings. No growthretardants were used when growing plants of the new Campanula ‘PKMP08’.

The age of the ‘PKMP08’ plants described is 14 weeks old after cutting,as grown in 10.5 cm pots. The photographs and descriptions were takenduring the winter season when day temperatures in the glass-coveredgreenhouse ranged from 18-22° C. and when the night average temperaturein the glass-covered greenhouse was 16° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Campanula portenschlagiana Schult.-   Parentage:    -   -   Male parent.—Campanula portenschlagiana Schult. 08.05.        -   Female parent.—Campanula portenschlagiana Schult 08.03.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18 to 21° C.            in tunnels in a greenhouse.        -   Root description.—Fine, well branched.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Perennial, herbaceous, rosette plant with upright            plant habit and overall globular shape. Campanulate flowers            in racemes. Freely branching with lateral branches forming            at every node; dense and bushy.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 14 weeks are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Size.—Height (soil level to top of plant plane): About            16-17-cm. Spread (width): About 30-32 cm.        -   Stem.—Shape: Round. Strength: Stiff. Color: RHS 144A,            yellow-green.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About 100 per plant. Length            (including flowers): About 10 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to            2 mm. Aspect: Center of plant: ascending; Perimeter of            plant: spreading to drooping. Texture: No hair and white            lactate. Color: RHS 144A, yellow-green. Basal branching:            Yes, when flowering. Internode Length: About 25 mm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—About 5.        -   Arrangement.—Single, alternate.        -   Length.—Basal: About 15 mm to 17 mm; Apical: About 8 mm to            12 mm.        -   Width.—Basal: About 20 mm to 24 mm; Apical: About 7 mm to 13            mm.        -   Shape.—Cordate, dentate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Broadly dentate.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous, dull.        -   Color.—Upper surfaces (young and mature foliage) RHS N137A,            green; Under surfaces (young and mature foliage): RHS 137A,            green.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Palmate. Color: (Upper and under            surfaces) RHS N137A, green.        -   Petiole.—Length: Basal: About 4 cm to 6 cm; Apical: Up to            1 cm. Diameter: 1-2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            RHS N137A, green.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single, upright flowers in            racemes; acropetal, campanulate flowers with small star            shaped calyx.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring            and summer. Season can be extended by long day treatments,            no vernalization needed.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About 5-9 days; however,            longevity of individual flowers is highly dependent on            temperature and light conditions. Flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Inflorescence size.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 7            cm.        -   Quantity of flower buds and flowers per plant.—About 1500.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—About 4-9.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—About 4-9.        -   Flowers.—Depth: About 15-20 mm. Diameter: About 20-25 mm.            Shape: Campanulate. Aspect: Upward to outward. Corolla            color: RHS N87A, violet, upper and under surface; and the            bottom of the bell has this same violet color.        -   Buds.—Length: Up to 12 mm. Diameter: Up to 4 mm. Shape:            Oblong, ridged. Color: RHS 144D, yellow-green to N88A,            violet.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single, sympetalous. Quantity per            flower: 5. Overall shape: Bell-shaped, campanulate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Fused. Length: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Width:            About 7 mm. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Color (when            opening): Upper surface: RHS N87A, violet. Under surface RHS            N87A, violet. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: RHS            N87A, violet. Under surface RHS N87A, violet. Fading: N89A,            violet-blue.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Free. Quantity per flower: 5. Overall            shape: Arrow-shaped. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Fused. Length:            About 4 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Margin: Entire. Texture:            Shiny, glabrous. Color: (immature — both surfaces): RHS            138A, green. Color: (mature — both surfaces): RHS 138A,            green.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: About            10-15 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: RHS 144A,            yellow-green.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Quantity per flower: 5; fused until            pollen has been shed. Anther: Shape: Fused, after shedding            curling. Length: About 1 mm. Color: RHS 4C, yellow. Pollen:            None.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Quantity per flower: 1. Length: About            12 mm. Stigma: Shape: Tripartite. Color: RHS N88A, violet.            Style: Length: About 11 mm. Color: RHS N88A violet. Ovary:            Color: RHS 1C yellow-green.-   Seeds: None observed.-   Fruit: None observed.-   Growth retardants: No growth retardants were used in the breeding    program.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Campanula have exhibited good    tolerance to drought, rain and wind, with low temperature resistance    to −15° C. or −20° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: None observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘PKMP08’, asillustrated and described herein.